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CBC #013 takes us back into the winding, damp streets of Skelderheim. Coffee is running low, and in a house like Brell and Emera’s, that changes the air in ways you can feel before you see.

Anna, Todd, and Charles head out on a routine supply run to Klebber’s Mercantiles and Imports, but the trip becomes about more than just beans and salt pork. For the first time, Anna steps out fully “blended”—wearing her Haan coat not as a costume, but as a skin. Through the eyes of a discerning merchant, we learn that a coat is never just a coat in Skelderheim; it is a map of service, a mark of a maker, and a signal to the city that the wearer knows exactly where they stand.

This is a grounded, atmospheric chapter built around routine, geography, and identity. It explores the hidden mechanics of the world—from the specific utility of Haan pockets to the vast reaches of the Merchant’s Corridor—and highlights the moment Anna stops being a “spectacle” and starts being a part of the rhythm of the steppe.

You’ll find:

• A deep dive into Haan craftsmanship: The secrets of maker marks, service records, and why you should never put a firestarter in your breast pocket unless you’re actually on the Steppe.
• The Geography of the Corridor: Klebber provides a “merchant’s eye view” of the world, from the Central Ocean to the mysterious Western Reach.
• Anna’s Evolution: A simple iron hair pin and a shift in stance mark a turning point in how she perceives herself and how the city perceives her.
• The Ritual of the Tavern: A closing scene of coffee and hard tack that reminds us why routine is the only thing that keeps the cold at bay.

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